Toyota has announced that they will be conducting two safety recalls involving certain 2004-2009 Prius vehicles.
The first involves approximately 670,000 vehicles in the U.S. to inspect the steering intermediate extension shaft. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Manufacturer defect
Lemon Airbags Leave Chevy And Buick Drivers Unprotected
General Motors (GM) will be contacting owners of certain Chevrolet and Buick cars to bring in their vehicles for a problem with the drivers side air bag coil. The problem is being blamed on a shorting bar in the system which could Continue reading
Lemon Fuel Flange Could Lead To A Jaguar Engine Fire
Jaguar has announced a recall for certain 2010-2012 Jaguar XF vehicles equipped with 5-liter gasoline engines. According to reports filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), these vehicles could have a fuel tank outlet flange that could be a lemon. Continue reading
Lemon Stitching Problem For Mercedes Benz Airbags
Mercedes Benz will be recalling approximately five hundred 2012 E350 and 2012 E550 Coupes for a problem with the right side window curtain airbag. According to Mercedes, improper stitching of the airbag may cause it to not deploy as intended. Continue reading
Suspension Problem For Nissan Altima
Nissan will be alerting owners of certain 2012-2013 Altima vehicles about a manufacturing problem that could lead to loss of control of their vehicles. According to Nissan, certain vehicles may have been manufactured with a transverse link bolt and power steering rack bolts that were not torqued to the proper specification. The bolt could loosen and fall off, increasing the risk of a vehicle accident. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Nissan customer services at 1-800-647-7261.
Chevy Volt Software Glitch Stalls Engines
General Motors (GM) has announced a customer satisfaction campaign affecting approximately four thousand 2013 Chevrolet Volt electric cars. A software glitch in the delayed charging function could cause the vehicle to unexpectedly stall. Drivers will still have steering and brakes, but in order to restart the engine, they must stop the vehicle, turn it off, and wait five minutes before restarting.
According to GM spokeswoman, Michelle Malcho, the glitch only affects the small number of owners that have used the delayed charging option. All drivers are recommended to switch to immediate instead of delayed time charging until the problem can be fixed. GM has already sent letters by Federal Express explaining to customers that the repair requires the vehicle’s control system software to be re-flashed. The repair is expected to take less than an hour.
Hyundai Investigated For Shattering Sunroofs
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigating into certain 2012 Hyundai Veloster after receiving 11 complaints from drivers who say their panoramic sunroof shattered unexpectedly. Of those complaints, seven happened while the vehicle was being driven at highway speeds.
While there have been no reported accidents related to the problem, shattering glass could cause injury to occupants and could distract the driver. Hyundai and NHTSA are working together to determine if a recall will be required.
Honda Accord Sub Frame Rusting
The Center for Auto Safety is urging Honda to issue a recall on certain 1999-2002 Honda Accords after an exclusive 5 On Your Side investigation exposed a potential safety issue. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) there have been 11 complaints since 2009 of sub frame rust that have left owners with vehicles that are unsafe to drive. The complaints allege that water from the air conditioning drain hose dips down onto the passenger side sub frame rusting it so badly that the frame can separate from the vehicle. The above video shows that while the passenger side disintegrated from rust, the driver side is often rust free.
A spokesperson for Honda confirmed that the company has also received similar complaints, but said they do not believe the defect warrants a safety bulletin or recall. In 2003 Honda changed the location of the drain hose, but said that the design change is unrelated to the problem. If the investigation should lead to a recall, approximately 1.5 million vehicles could be affected.
